University and Hawaiʻi leaders to make way for state-of-the-art, sustainable and permanent campus in Kapolei

The University of Hawaiʻi - West Oʻahu will ring in the new year with a ground blessing ceremony today, honoring the moment it takes a major step toward construction of a permanent new campus in the City of Kapolei, an event more than 30 years following the university‘s inception in 1976.

"This is a historic day for UH West Oʻahu and the people of Hawaiʻi," said UH West Oʻahu Chancellor Gene I. Awakuni. "We are now closer than ever to building a permanent university campus that will provide an unprecedented opportunity for Hawaiʻi residents to pursue a bachelor‘s degree close to home and increase access to higher education for generations to come."

The UH West Oʻahu Ground Blessing Ceremony will be held at the site of the future new campus in the City of Kapolei just off North-South Road near its intersection with Farrington Highway. Beginning at 10:30 a.m. with an oli performance by Kumu Leilani Basham and UH West Oʻahu students. The historic ceremony is open to invited guests and will be streamed live on the web at www.uhwo.hawaii.edu/newcampus.

When completed, UH West Oʻahu‘s new campus will accommodate 7,600 students and 1,000 faculty and staff.

UH West Oʻahu became a four-year, comprehensive university when it served its first class of freshmen in fall 2007. The University offers quality education, small classes and personalized attention at convenient locations. For more information, visit uhwo.hawaii.edu or call 454-4700 or toll-free (866) 299-8656.